Marijuana has been reclassified from a Class C drug to Class B in the U.K. -- a move that carries more restrictions and higher penalties for offenses involving the drug, The Times of London reported May 8.

The administration of Prime Minister Gordon Brown approved the reclassification despite the recommendation of its own advisory panel that the drug remain in the less-restrictive Class C. The decision still must be approved by Parliament.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that while penalties for marijuana offenses would increase for adults, offenders under age 18 won't be treated any more harshly than when the drug was in Class C.

The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs said that the health dangers of marijuana did not warrant the reclassification, and predicted that the change would have little practical effect on drug use.

Smith cited the availability of strong "skunk" marijuana in endorsing the reclassification. "Where there is a clear and serious problem, but doubt about the harm that will be caused, we must err on the side of caution and protect the public," she said. "I make no apology for that -- I am not prepared to wait and see."